Abhishek Sharma, Nitish Reddy, Harshit Rana likely to get BCCI's central contract

The much-anticipated BCCI central contracts list is expected to be released soon, with sources suggesting that there will be no major surprises apart from a few exceptions. The board may show some flexibility for players who haven't strictly met the eligibility criteria but have impressed with their recent performances.

Among the new faces likely to be included is left-handed batter Abhishek Sharma, who has caught the eye with strong performances in the ongoing IPL and recent domestic fixtures. He is expected to be offered a Grade C contract, which carries an annual retainer of ₹1 crore.

As per BCCI's central contract criteria, players who have featured in at least 3 Tests, 8 ODIs, or 10 T20Is during the defined cycle (usually October to September) are eligible for Grade C on a pro-rata basis. Abhishek has played 17 T20Is so far, 12 of which fall within the qualifying window.

Also in contention is 21-year-old all-rounder Nitish Reddy from Andhra Pradesh, who played all five Tests in the recent Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia, thereby qualifying for a central contract.

Harshit Rana may also feature in the list, despite not fulfilling the exact format-wise criteria (he has played 2 Tests, 5 ODIs, and 1 T20I). His cumulative performance across formats may earn him a place.

Varun Chakravarthy, with 4 ODIs and 18 T20Is under his belt, is also being considered for inclusion. Meanwhile, Shreyas Iyer, who delivered standout performances in the recently concluded Champions Trophy, is expected to return to the contract list.

At the top of the list, there will be no changes to the A+ category, which will continue to feature Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah, and Ravindra Jadeja. Only minor tweaks are expected in the grading, with just a few names potentially shifting.

There may also be changes within the Indian team’s support staff, sources indicate. Final decisions have already been made, and the official announcement is expected within the next few days.